Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 24) — Thousands of protesters marched to the Batasang Pambansa on Monday to give their own assessment of the country’s situation, ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address.
Some 7,000 people from militant groups and cause-oriented organizations held their “People’s SONA,” near the Quezon City Polytechnic University along IBP road, where they protested key issues and grievances from the President’s first year in office.
Protesters from Makabayan bloc, Anakpawis and other groups criticized the President over several issues including the extension of martial law in Mindanao and the administration’s failure to end contractualization.
They carried placards and banners in protest of the President, including some signs spray painted with “Duterte Hitler Diktator Tuta,” which mirrors a slogan used by activists against former President and strongman Ferdinand Marcos during his regime.
The protesters also unveiled the first-ever Duterte replica to be used in a SONA rally.
The double-sided replica featured Duterte on one side, partnered with an image of him in the likeness of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler at the back.
This scene was starkly different from last year’s SONA, when the newly-elected President Duterte was greeted by a more welcoming crowd.
Last year’s protest was generally peaceful, according to both police and rallyists. No extreme measures were used to disperse the protesters.
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This year’s protest came in the wake of several issues including the suspension of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and Congress recent extension of martial law in Mindanao.
READ: Congress grants Duterte’s request to extend martial law in Mindanao until end of year
Militant groups have protested the declaration of martial law, claiming it paves the way for increased human rights abuses.
The groups also called out the President’s failure to end contractualization, despite being one of his campaign promises during the 2016 Presidential elections.
Despite this, protests remained much more peaceful than SONA rallies from previous administrations, where crowds sometimes would sometimes turn unruly.
The Duterte government has been more accommodating to protesters compared to previous administrations, when protesters would be limited to areas in Commonwealth.
This year, protesters were given a 200-meter buffer zone from the Batasan’s gates and allowed to go 30 meters closer to the complex than in 2016.
Aside from this, protest marches held on Monday were also more orderly, with leaders coordinating with authorities to ensure a peaceful rally.
Duterte supporters, meanwhile, also held their own rally at the Civil Service Commission about a kilometer away from the militant groups
Around 2,500 Duterte supporters from pro-Duterte groups like the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Council and Friends of Rody Duterte rallied near the Batasan Complex to commend the President for a job well done in the past year.
READ: LOOK: Duterte supporters rally ahead of SONA
The supporters said Duterte had done a lot in just one year, including his trademark war on drugs and eventual reduction of the crime rate.
They added, they were not there to argue with the militants and just wanted to show their love for their President.
